Family of Indiana soldier who went missing for weeks hopes to change search protocols at military bases

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The family of the Indiana soldier found dead on Fort Hood in Texas earlier this month is now hoping his death can change the search protocols at military bases across the country.

19-year-old Private Dakota Stump was found dead November 3rd next to his car in a wooded area on the base, 24 days after he went missing. Investigators believe the vehicle left the roadway, entered the wooded area and rolled over multiple times. Due to the terrain and heavy vegetation, the vehicle was not visible from the road.

"We need the support right now to get Dakota’s Law passed and we have a lot of good people behind us," Stump's mother, Patrice Wise, said before his funeral Saturday.

The family said they were very frustrated with how little information they received from military officials during the search for Stump and are concerned about how long it took to find his body.

Stump's family says Dakota's Law would improve search protocols at all military bases around the country.

“I always told Dakota he was going to do something really, really great in life," Wise said. "I didn’t know that it was going to be to turn out like this."

Family members say they are working Governor and now Vice Presidential Elect Mike Pence to help push through the legislation at the national level.